TWW FIC :: "At Home" [CJ/Ainsley, PG]
Title: At Home
Author: A. Magiluna Stormwriter
Author’s Email: stormwriter@shatterstorm.net
Pairing: CJ/Ainsley
Rating: PG
Date: 5-6 December 2008
Word Count: 1020
Written for: sinandmisery & shiplessheathen's Finish It All Off ficathon
Summary: I feel so at peace, so at home in my own skin for the first time in my life.
Series: Get What You Need
Sequel to: Secret Santa
Warning: Established lesbian couple. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Spoilers (if any): post-series
Disclaimer: “The West Wing”, the characters and situations depicted are the property of Warner Bros. Television, John Wells Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. This site is in no way affiliated with "The West Wing", NBC, or any representatives of Allison Janney or Emily Procter. This site contains stories between two mature, consenting adult females.
Author’s Notes: So the lines in italics are the original prompt. Well, after a couple of minor word changes due to tense issues. *heh* And srsly, how can I possibly say no to CJ and Ainsley? This is kinda new, writing them from CJ's POV. But I think I can do it some more in the future. It wasn't too bad…
Dedication: my muses, as usual…
Beta: shatterpath, as usual…
"At Home"
by A. Magiluna Stormwriter
Ainsley is gorgeous and more than likely she knows it, not that I spend much time thinking about the way Ainsley looks. It's just that she's smart too and I've always liked that in a woman.
I pause for a moment, staring at the words on the monitor as if I've never seen them before. This is probably one of the hardest interviews I've ever done. And that's saying a hell of a lot, considering two of my former jobs in the last two decades.
When Carol -- damn it! Her name is Karin, Claudia Jean -- Karin buzzed in to inform me that the editor-in-chief of Curve magazine wanted to speak with me, I knew things were about to irrevocably change my life even more than the initial flurry of my coming out did. While the interview had initially been set up to talk about the Safe Haven bill we've been trying to get passed, I knew my orientation would be brought up in the interview as well. Ainsley and I discussed it, and she'd agreed that the interview should be more than just sensationalist journalism, and I promptly set up the meeting.
That initial interview was fascinating. Sylvia, the editor, chose to focus the interview on the work I've done and the intricacies of being a very public figure coming out as I did. We'd discussed Ainsley only in the abstract, beyond an initial mention of who she is and how we'd met. I was incredibly proud of that interview, how professional and compassionate the end result had turned out. Safe Haven was still the focus of the interview, but there was just enough put in about me and my own struggles with coming out to make it very… I suppose accessible is the best word.
And now, here I sit, typing up a few notes based on the rough set of questions Sylvia sent over two days ago for the follow-up interview. Once again, this interview was set up primarily to discuss Safe Haven and the struggles we're having in just a few states to get both the popular and political votes to pass it now that Congress has reconvened after their holiday break, but when I'd let it slip that Ainsley and I were engaged to be married, Sylvia jumped on that opportunity to speak to both of us. It had been Ainsley to suggest doing this interview here at the condo, so she could be comfortable.
I can hear Ainsley puttering around in the kitchen, fixing her favorite fruit salad and sweet iced tea to offer our guest. She won't admit to it, but she's incredibly nervous about this interview. She's been obsessively cleaning and cooking these past few days, and I've had to stop her from decimating vegetation on more than one occasion. A long, leisurely round of lovemaking this morning has her endorphins at an all time high, so she's pretty calm right now.
I save the document and start it printing out before heading into the kitchen to get some of that iced tea. Ainsley is sitting at the counter, staring out the patio door as she absently stirs her tea. I sneak up behind her, arms going around her waist, and nuzzle at her neck. "Penny for them?" I murmur softly and smile as she leans back into my touch.
"I was just thinking…"
When she doesn't continue, I chuckle and nip lightly at her earlobe. "You were just thinking?"
"So many things going through my head this afternoon," she starts slowly. "Safe Haven is so important, and I don't want our personal lives to overshadow that at all, not even in a positive way. But at the same time, I want every single person I know about our life together." She sighs heavily then. "Am I making any sense, CJ?"
With a grin, I move to face her, cup her cheek in my hand. "Crystal clear, hon," I reply softly as I lean in for a tender kiss. "And I trust Sylvia to make sure the interview is balanced appropriately. Remember how much money she and the magazine have put into Safe Haven since she first found out about it. This isn't just something to sell copies."
She nods slowly, and that sweet smile spreads across her face. "Thank you, CJ," is murmured against my lips as she steals another kiss.
We just stay there, wrapped around each other for several moments, until the doorbell pulls me from her. "Ready to do this?" I ask and let out a held breath when she nods. Taking her hand, we head into the living room. Ainsley curls up on the couch with her iced tea, instantly going for that comfort zone.
Opening the door, I let Sylvia and her photographer into our home. Initial pleasantries and introductions are taken care of, and Ainsley gets up to bring in the tray with tea and salads for our guests. She quickly settles back on the couch, leaning against my side out of years of habit. She's pretty silent while Sylvia and I discuss the updates to Safe Haven, absently toying with her engagement ring or stroking her fingers along my thigh. The latter is definitely a nervous gesture, and I'm quite impressed that she hasn't started rambling in iambic pentameter yet.
When the interview turns to more personal matters, Ainsley perks up. We take a few pictures in the kitchen and living room, in addition to the pictures the photographer was taking during the first half of the interview. She then takes them on a tour of the condo while I relax back on the couch and reflect on all that's happened in this very place.
There was a point not so very many years ago when I would have been incredibly freaked out by the turn of events in my life. But now? I feel so at peace, so at home in my own skin for the first time in my life. All because of that petite blonde Republican in the other room.
And I'd sooner die than let that feeling ever change.
Author: A. Magiluna Stormwriter
Author’s Email: stormwriter@shatterstorm.net
Pairing: CJ/Ainsley
Rating: PG
Date: 5-6 December 2008
Word Count: 1020
Written for: sinandmisery & shiplessheathen's Finish It All Off ficathon
Summary: I feel so at peace, so at home in my own skin for the first time in my life.
Series: Get What You Need
Sequel to: Secret Santa
Warning: Established lesbian couple. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Spoilers (if any): post-series
Disclaimer: “The West Wing”, the characters and situations depicted are the property of Warner Bros. Television, John Wells Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. This site is in no way affiliated with "The West Wing", NBC, or any representatives of Allison Janney or Emily Procter. This site contains stories between two mature, consenting adult females.
Author’s Notes: So the lines in italics are the original prompt. Well, after a couple of minor word changes due to tense issues. *heh* And srsly, how can I possibly say no to CJ and Ainsley? This is kinda new, writing them from CJ's POV. But I think I can do it some more in the future. It wasn't too bad…
Dedication: my muses, as usual…
Beta: shatterpath, as usual…
"At Home"
by A. Magiluna Stormwriter
Ainsley is gorgeous and more than likely she knows it, not that I spend much time thinking about the way Ainsley looks. It's just that she's smart too and I've always liked that in a woman.
I pause for a moment, staring at the words on the monitor as if I've never seen them before. This is probably one of the hardest interviews I've ever done. And that's saying a hell of a lot, considering two of my former jobs in the last two decades.
When Carol -- damn it! Her name is Karin, Claudia Jean -- Karin buzzed in to inform me that the editor-in-chief of Curve magazine wanted to speak with me, I knew things were about to irrevocably change my life even more than the initial flurry of my coming out did. While the interview had initially been set up to talk about the Safe Haven bill we've been trying to get passed, I knew my orientation would be brought up in the interview as well. Ainsley and I discussed it, and she'd agreed that the interview should be more than just sensationalist journalism, and I promptly set up the meeting.
That initial interview was fascinating. Sylvia, the editor, chose to focus the interview on the work I've done and the intricacies of being a very public figure coming out as I did. We'd discussed Ainsley only in the abstract, beyond an initial mention of who she is and how we'd met. I was incredibly proud of that interview, how professional and compassionate the end result had turned out. Safe Haven was still the focus of the interview, but there was just enough put in about me and my own struggles with coming out to make it very… I suppose accessible is the best word.
And now, here I sit, typing up a few notes based on the rough set of questions Sylvia sent over two days ago for the follow-up interview. Once again, this interview was set up primarily to discuss Safe Haven and the struggles we're having in just a few states to get both the popular and political votes to pass it now that Congress has reconvened after their holiday break, but when I'd let it slip that Ainsley and I were engaged to be married, Sylvia jumped on that opportunity to speak to both of us. It had been Ainsley to suggest doing this interview here at the condo, so she could be comfortable.
I can hear Ainsley puttering around in the kitchen, fixing her favorite fruit salad and sweet iced tea to offer our guest. She won't admit to it, but she's incredibly nervous about this interview. She's been obsessively cleaning and cooking these past few days, and I've had to stop her from decimating vegetation on more than one occasion. A long, leisurely round of lovemaking this morning has her endorphins at an all time high, so she's pretty calm right now.
I save the document and start it printing out before heading into the kitchen to get some of that iced tea. Ainsley is sitting at the counter, staring out the patio door as she absently stirs her tea. I sneak up behind her, arms going around her waist, and nuzzle at her neck. "Penny for them?" I murmur softly and smile as she leans back into my touch.
"I was just thinking…"
When she doesn't continue, I chuckle and nip lightly at her earlobe. "You were just thinking?"
"So many things going through my head this afternoon," she starts slowly. "Safe Haven is so important, and I don't want our personal lives to overshadow that at all, not even in a positive way. But at the same time, I want every single person I know about our life together." She sighs heavily then. "Am I making any sense, CJ?"
With a grin, I move to face her, cup her cheek in my hand. "Crystal clear, hon," I reply softly as I lean in for a tender kiss. "And I trust Sylvia to make sure the interview is balanced appropriately. Remember how much money she and the magazine have put into Safe Haven since she first found out about it. This isn't just something to sell copies."
She nods slowly, and that sweet smile spreads across her face. "Thank you, CJ," is murmured against my lips as she steals another kiss.
We just stay there, wrapped around each other for several moments, until the doorbell pulls me from her. "Ready to do this?" I ask and let out a held breath when she nods. Taking her hand, we head into the living room. Ainsley curls up on the couch with her iced tea, instantly going for that comfort zone.
Opening the door, I let Sylvia and her photographer into our home. Initial pleasantries and introductions are taken care of, and Ainsley gets up to bring in the tray with tea and salads for our guests. She quickly settles back on the couch, leaning against my side out of years of habit. She's pretty silent while Sylvia and I discuss the updates to Safe Haven, absently toying with her engagement ring or stroking her fingers along my thigh. The latter is definitely a nervous gesture, and I'm quite impressed that she hasn't started rambling in iambic pentameter yet.
When the interview turns to more personal matters, Ainsley perks up. We take a few pictures in the kitchen and living room, in addition to the pictures the photographer was taking during the first half of the interview. She then takes them on a tour of the condo while I relax back on the couch and reflect on all that's happened in this very place.
There was a point not so very many years ago when I would have been incredibly freaked out by the turn of events in my life. But now? I feel so at peace, so at home in my own skin for the first time in my life. All because of that petite blonde Republican in the other room.
And I'd sooner die than let that feeling ever change.